ORLANDO — If suitors’ pocketbooks match their strong interest in Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies will be looking to fill a hole in their rotation through trade or free agents Carl Pavano or Javier Vazquez.

Multiple teams have aggressively pursued De La Rosa, including the Pirates, Nationals and Orioles. The Rangers and Yankees could also enter the mix depending on what transpires with ace Cliff Lee, which could slow the process.

Pittsburgh has identified the left-hander as its top target. This carries more significance now given the hiring of former Rockies’ boss Clint Hurdle.

Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd wants De La Rosa back, but “at a number where we believe he fits.” Translation: If the 29-year-old gets beyond three years, he will likely be headed elsewhere because the Rockies aren’t going to be drawn into a bidding war.

Tuesday, Pavano emerged as a stronger possibility after Jake Westbrook re-signed with the Cardinals for $16.5 million over two years, just hours after Hiroki Kuroda’s one-year, $12 million deal was finalized with the Dodgers.

The dwindling field could help De La Rosa and Pavano. Multiple GMs polled Tuesday were split on whether De La Rosa would receive a four-year deal.

“We would like to keep Jorge, but we will keep talking to all the different free agents and to clubs about trades,” O’Dowd said.

The Rockies began this winter with interest in Tampa Bay’s James Shields. The Rays haven’t determined which starting pitcher they will move, and could shop Matt Garza instead.

Colorado has told Bartolo Colon’s agent that they will monitor the veteran’s progress in the winter league. If nothing materializes, the Rockies are prepared to give Esmil Rogers a shot in the rotation.

Jax/Mora watch.

The Rockies continue to prioritize a right-handed bat, but it appears it won’t be Conor Jackson. Sources said Tuesday that Oakland has no plans to trade or non-tender Jackson. Colorado is still expected to inquire about Washington’s Josh Willingham and the Angels’ Mike Napoli.

Melvin Mora could be moving on. Mora is looking to sign a deal soon, and the Rockies aren’t prepared to make a commitment at this point.

Footnotes.

Colorado released Manuel Corpas, eating $3.75 million on his contract. Corpas is not expected to pitch in 2011 (elbow surgery). . . . Wil Rosario is ahead of schedule in his ACL recovery and should be ready for spring training. Rosario and Jordan Pacheco are why the Rockies don’t want to commit beyond one season to a free-agent catcher.

Troy joined The Denver Post in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role before the 2015 season. He is a past president of the local chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America and has won more than 20 local and national writing awards since graduating from the University of Colorado journalism school with honors in 1993.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill didn’t know what to do when he started hearing thousands of people in Arrowhead Stadium chanting his name, even as he stood all alone on the frozen turf waiting for the punt.